Leaders in their field

Does your club need a new pitch or does it simply need a makeover? If so, Emerald Pitch Developments Ltd are well worth giving a call to.

How times have changed in the GAA! As recently as the 1980s, many clubs didn’t have their own grounds and those that did had little or no facilities to speak of.

In the past decade or so, GAA grounds have undergone massive redevelopment, not only at national level but at grassroots level also. The Association’s pride and joy - Croke Park - is now regarded as one of the finest sporting arenas in Europe while provincial venues such as Semple Stadium, Fitzgerald Stadium, O’Moore Park, Hyde Park, Clones and Casement Park are worthy of the biggest occasions.

Many club grounds have also received major facelifts, bringing them up to 21st century standards. Some of the more progressive clubs can boast of facilities such as clubhouses, gymnasiums and floodlighting. Two decades ago, a club with dressingrooms was seen to be progressive!

As clubs strive to improve their facilities, however, some have been guilty of neglecting what is the centrepiece of every club - the playing pitch. Similar to everything else, pitches can only take so much punishment and need to be maintained on a regular basis. That’s where Emerald Pitch Developments Ltd come in.

Based in Clonbullogue near Edenderry, Co. Offaly, Emerald Pitch Developments Ltd are specialists in pitch construction - including all-weather pitches - maintenance and drainage. They also specialise in golf course construction.

Though just three years in existence, the company has carried out numerous contracts all over Ireland. Its co-directors Martin Meleady and John Foran have a wealth of experience in the business. Martin actually worked on the construction of the running track and pitch at Sydney’s Olympic Stadium while John specialised in golf and grass machinery before they set up Emerald Pitch Developments.

“We saw an opening there and decided to take it,” explains John, whose father Sean played for Offaly in the 1961 All-Ireland football final against Down.

“Martin had picked up a lot of experience during his time in Australia while I had been involved in the mechanical side of things. I had already started pitch and golf course construction on a small scale before I linked with Martin to set up the business we have today,” he adds.

Emerald have all the technology and equipment to carry out contracts speedily, neatly and cost-efficient. They specialise in six main areas - construction, drainage, sand spreading, verti drainage, over seeding and trenching.

John and Martin have found that the construction of sand-based all-weather training pitches have been especially popular with GAA clubs.

John explains: “Because football and hurling are predominantly summer sports, GAA clubs don’t spend as much money on maintaining their pitches as some soccer and rugby clubs would.

“Having said that, GAA clubs are looking after their pitches a lot better than they used to. Since the advent of club lotteries and improved funding from the Government, they have more money to spend and, in any case, players nowadays expect a better quality of playing surface.

“In our dealings with GAA clubs, we have found that a lot of them opt to spend their money on all-weather training pitches. The reason for this is that it takes the pressure off the main pitch, which they can use for playing purposes only.”

It goes without saying that good drainage is essential for good sportsturf. There are few sites where natural drainage suffices - supplementary drainage needs to be undertaken in those cases where the ground becomes waterlogged on occasions, or where water is perched on the surface.

Modern drainage systems usually consist of three components: (a) Pipe drains spaced five, seven or 10 metres apart backfilled almost to the surface with a free-draining medium. (b) A network of 50mm wide drainage slits, closely spaced to carry excess water speedily to the pipes below. (c) The incoporation of a free drainage sand into the top 75-100mm of soil or sward.

Optimium results are achieved by carrying out all three steps. On most sites, it is possible to design a system to remove 22mm of precipitation in one hour.

Sand spreading helps to promote drainage, root development and achieve better results for wet weather play. Verti drainage, with its unique action and extra deep penetration, provides the solution to problems such as compaction, bad drainage and poor grass cover.

Over seeding involves the placing of seed precisely where it is required. Emerald use the Moore Drill which enables seed to be stitched into a pitch while causing minimal disturbance to the existing grasses.

Among the clubs/organisations Emerald have recently carried out contracts for are: UCD Galway United FC (Terryland Park), Munster Rugby (Thomond Park), Naas RFC, St. Francis FC, Blackrock College, Glenamaddy GAA, Westport GAA, Shamrocks GAA, Walsh Island GAA, Johnstownbridge GAA, Carlow RFC, Moorefield GAA, Sarsfields GAA, Edenderry GAA and Rhode GAA.

Golf clubs include Clontarf, Edenderry, Longford, Portarlington, Adare Manor, Moate, Woodlands (Kildare), Tullamore and Portumna (9 hole).

Until the end of May 2003, Emerald Pitch Developments are offering to sponsor a set of jerseys for any club that avails of the complete drainage system. Emerald already sponsor their local club Clonbullogue who were beaten narrowly by Daingean in the Offaly intermedaiate football final last year.

For further information on Emerald Pitch Developments and what they have to offer telephone (0405) 30082 or fax (0405) 30209.